I leave for London on February 4th. Many people question why I am making this move. There has been criticism and judgement. The great thing is i don’t need to justify myself or anything to anyone in this world because the only person’s opinion that matters in situations like these, is mine. Only I have to be happy, comfortable with my decisions. And usually, when people are judging, they are only trying to make themselves feel better about their own lives. Apparently attempting to put people down is how they try to achieve this but my theory is they are only left feeling even more empty and hopeless. Deep down.

So, i know its going to be cold. I know there is little sun. I know I will miss home. I know its going to be a struggle at times.

But i always have Cape. Town. I always have home. It will, a-l-w-a-y-s be here.

home. mine.

And experiences are priceless. I’m sure I will appreciate my home and my family and my life here so much more once I have left. But once I come home after years of experience abroad – meeting new people, learnings to things, overcoming challenges and visiting the most beautiful places in the world with the man i love – I will appreciate that too.

Nothing has felt more right.

And at times when I’m over there, it may feel really wrong. And I’m sure I will blog about that too. Thank goodness. But isn’t that part if life? Or do we just remain comfortable. For.Ever. Thats my worst nightmare. Boredom. Complacency.

So, all the shit weather and shitness some of you are convinced I will encounter, aside… here are the things I look forward to, over the seas.

via xxrens.blogspot.com

Cooking dinner with my very special brother who i have not lived with since i was 14.

Shopping for new winter boots.

Wearing new winter boots.

Visiting Vida in Regent St. Not for the coffee, for the familiarity.

Travelling to and from anywhere, on my own, using my own two feet, not 4 wheels.

Finding my new comfort foods. Here ,it’s ouma rusks and lindt. There, what will they be?

Seeing old friends.

Buying a beanie.

Buying a scarf.

Buying gloves.

Wearing my new beanie, scarf and gloves.

Hot coffee on a cold morning.

Running in the cold.

Discovering new places and things.

Travelling to Germany to visit my love.

Weekend in the South of France, Saint Tropez to be exact.

Even if its expensive, I will go to at least one show before I am broke.

Journal writing in coffee shops.

Blogging in coffee shops.

Fast internet.

New job.

New challenges.

Overcoming new challenges.

need i say more.

Feel free to add to this list. I would appreciate it if you did, actually.

December was a rough month for me, strange considering the fact that my long-distance boyfriend returned from Germany for the month to visit me. But alas, romantic reunions cannot counteract the movements of the planets in our solar system. I read my horoscope for December 2010 on astrologyzone.com ( i dont usually beliefe this shit, but seriously, do yourself a favour and go to this site. very accurate) anyway, and she warned me about December because Mercury would be in retrograde all month.

I didn’t believe her. Seriously lady, don’t tell me Im going to have a shitty December when my brother is getting married, i am on holiday for a month and my boyfriend is coming to visit bringing his big cuddly body along with him, amongst other things. And Christmas – i suppose stopped being awesome when I got a job and had to start using my own money to buy presents.

Mercury aside, i survived, and there were obviously some very awesome moments.

Highlights being:

-Fetching my love from the airport.

-Days in rooiels with him swimming in the sea, lying in the sun, walking, reading, sleeping, trapping spiders, braai-ing and watching dexter, entourage and modern family when it was too windy to go outside.

-My brothers wedding.

-Sushi.

-Sleeping in.

-Forest running.

-Lunch at Pomegranate in Stellenbosch with the geese. Amazing – highly recommended, best piece of Norwegian Salmon I have ever consumed, ever.

-Reunions with old friends who are scattered all over the world (which will soon be me! – yay 🙂 )

-Visits to the cinema to watch Megamind and Little Fockers.

Low-lights were:

-Wind

-Having to shop in Cavendish for Christmas presents – so.help.me.god i will never do that again.

-Driving over 3000km’s to visit family and go to weddings. ie: a little too busy for my liking.

-Being man-down with tummy bug last three days of holiday in 38 degree heat.

-38 degree heat.

But all and all I think I managed to slap that retrograding mercury out of my orbit. Most of the time 😉

Happy new year folks.

xx

Some images from the closing of my 2010.

mother and I dressed and ready for brother's wedding.

Marsh and Jo's wedding.

hottest couple there for sure. other than the bride and groom of course..